Three incumbents win Clovis City Council elections

City Council candidates Drew Bessinger, Jose Flores, and Bob Whalen were all reelected after the Mar. 5 Clovis City elections. PHOTOS CONTIBUTED BY CITY OF CLOVIS

Incumbents Jose Flores, Drew Bessinger and Bob Whalen defeated new challenger Maeketah Rivera in the Clovis City elections held on Tuesday, March 5.

The four candidates were fighting for three positions.

Clovis Mayor Bob Whalen notes strong public safety, education and strong sense of community as the three values that are especially important for Clovis.

Whalen said Clovis’ success has been possible because of the council’s ability to listen to what the citizens are communicating.

Whalen added that those who have served Clovis in past years have been successful in communicating with the citizens, so the current council honors their legacy by doing the same.

“I want to start by thanking Maeketah for having the courage to run,” Whalen said. “It takes a lot of courage to put your name on the ballot because you never know what’s going to happen.”

Whalen added that he’s encouraged by the fact that all of the incumbents were reelected.

“It makes me feel as though the city of Clovis is headed in the right direction,” Whalen said. “The citizens believe that the current leadership is doing a good job.”

Finishing his first two-year term on the Clovis City Council, Drew Bessinger is set for a new four-year term.

Bessinger has received support from people and organizations such as Fresno County Sheriff Margaret Mims, Clovis Police and Firefighters Associations.

Bessinger said he’s focused on bringing back Clovis’ police staffing to where it was before the recession and adding a new fire station in southeast Clovis.

“I would like to thank the citizens of Clovis who reelected me to your City Council,” Bessinger said. “I will work diligently on your behalf, and to continue making Clovis a better place for all of our residents.”

Jose Flores has dedicated his career to law enforcement and the Clovis City Council for more than 20 years.

Flores has also been focused on making sure a reliable source of water is available for the community.

As a product of Clovis Unified School District, Flores said education is another key challenge which he has focused on.

“Every four years the voters of Clovis are given an opportunity to evaluate the job I’m doing on the City Council,” Flores said. “This year, I offered myself once again for consideration to serve on the council and I asked voters for their vote. Clovis voters overwhelming decided to keep the incumbents another four years.”

Flores said he thanks the voters for continuing to trust the council and he will “continue being a good steward of the city, with the goal of improving and protecting the Clovis Way of Life.”

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